Amherst Eagles give Lorain Fire Department $3,000

LORAIN -- A generous donation from the Amherst Eagles Club Aerie 1442 will help light the way for the Lorain Fire Department.

Yesterday, Randy Phillips, president of the club located at 1161 Milan Ave., Amherst, and a group of the club's officers, presented a check for $3,000 to Lorain Fire Chief Thomas Brown.

After the presentation, club members took a tour of the Central Fire Station.

"For them to recognize us, it is obviously an honor. They do a lot of charity and donation work," Brown said.

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The money will be used to replace and update hand lights on the fire trucks.

"Hand lights are very powerful flashlights mounted on the truck that we use for structure fires. There is a mount inside the cab. The fireman puts a strap on his shoulder and he aims the light where it needs to be aimed," Brown said.

"There will also be a glow light in back of the hand light," Brown said, "so the other firefighters can see where he's at. It's newer technology and brighter lights. They're always there, already charged and ready to go."

Lieutenant Steve Heider of the Lorain Fire Department was asked about a month ago by members of the club's donation committee if there was a piece of equipment that was needed by firefighters, Brown said.

"We donate a lot through the year," said Pete Deskins, a club member and a member of the donation committee. "This is the first time we've done it for the Lorain Fire Department. We have some members who are Lorain firemen. They were also telling us about the need for these lights and how sometimes the battery dies on the ones they have now," Deskins said. The Amherst Eagles Club has about 3,000 members, he said.

They raise money through various fundraisers throughout the year, such as steak fry dinners, according to Deskins.

"We also give donations to local football and basketball and cheerleading teams, and to schools; to the South Amherst Fire Department and to the police station in Amherst," Deskins said.

"We will upgrade the whole fleet," Brown said. "We will do all the trucks at the same time. We have seven trucks. Some have older hand lights, others have newer ones. So, they will all be upgraded."

Brown said Lorain firefighters will be joining up with the Amherst Eagles to assist in a fundraiser "sometime soon."